We Tories must lead a rational discussion with the public about the pros and cons of immigration

There is nothing more Conservative than striking out to build a better future for yourselfCredit:
Ben Stansall/AFP

We need to talk about immigration – as a nation, as a society and as policymakers. And it needs to happen in a mature way; neither pandering to the “Britain’s full up” brigade, nor those claiming there isn’t a nurse with a British accent left in the country. For my own part, it’s a discussion I want the Conservative Party to lead, because this isn’t about slogans on mugs or Breaking Point posters; this is about the need for a rational discussion around economic growth, workforce planning, the capacity of public services, societal change and public consent.

It is also to understand the intensely personal nature of the debate. One in eight people living in the UK was born outside our borders and...